"It is better to fail in originality than to succeed in imitation." – Herman Melville

Commuting Conundrum

It is widely assumed that the impact of rising oil prices extends far beyond travel and commutation and impacts all aspects of life. The change also has a varied impact on the rich and poor, with the latter suffering more than the former. When it comes to the topic of the exorbitant rise in petrol costs, it brings up an old and unanswered question: Why are most residents deprived of an effective, affordable, and decent transportation system? Decision-makers typically see the issue of transportation and commutation in isolation from the social reality of the masses, and as a result, the solutions proposed are typically costly, acontextual, counter-productive, and unsustainable. To handle a more complex issue, the neoliberal mindset plagued planners frequently recommend purchasing expensive buses, massive investment in transportation related major infrastructure projects, and gender insensitive operationalization of the plans. The issue of urban transportation is inextricably linked to a number of rapidly changing social realities in society. To name a few, the changing demographics of Karachi, variations in family structure, the evolving pattern of dwellings, and the spatial distribution of livelihood opportunities all play a role in defining and reshaping Karachi's travel and commutation discourse. Investing in public transportation will not only lower commute costs for the average person, but it will also lower the country's fuel bill. Carpooling is becoming more popular in Pakistan, signalling an urgent need for improved transportation resources that would benefit everyone, not just the fortunate few. It is time to wake up and act before it is too late. Let us prioritise resource allocation in order to build a better future for all Pakistanis.

Yumna Baig,
Karachi

Gas Crisis in Karachi

Karachi, Pakistan's financial hub, is currently receiving only two hours of gas supply each day due to the country's catastrophic energy crisis. The semi-state-owned natural gas company issued a tight gas timetable for domestic consumers. Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) declared in a statement that gas will be delivered to domestic consumers during morning, afternoon and evening meal hours. The announcement comes after months of unannounced gas load shedding in the city, which has irritated and angered domestic customers. Although Winters are gone still the gas supply hasn’t been restored properly. For the past several weeks, practically every neighbourhood in the city has had very low pressure or no supply of gas during peak hours, with the gas utility provider unable to respond appropriately. Customers in some places have complained about just receiving two hours of gas supply during the day. There have also been reports of low gas pressure in numerous regions, preventing consumers from cooking proper meals. People in many places have begun to rely on LPG gas cylinders, which is burning a hole in their pockets. The authorities involved should investigate the situation as soon as possible and restore regular gas supplies to the affected area. There are numerous solutions that are being considered. Among all of these options, one of the most ecological and feasible is to use solar solutions. In this aspect, technology and solar power solutions can be extremely advantageous. It will benefit not only residential consumers, but also commercial users.

Rabia Jawaid,
Karachi